Introduction The aim of this field study was to study a particular species of snails, (Cepaea nemoralis) otherwise known as the grove snail and determine if polymorphism was active in this distinct population. This snail was chosen as it is one of the most common species of land snail in Europe hence increasing the likelihood of finding a large sample in different areas. Furthermore, since the study was about snails, the different niche areas we were investigating only had to be about 20m away from each other which made sampling a lot easier than it would’ve been if it was a land territorial/migrating species such as birds, lions or humans. Additionally, examining snails made identifying the phenotypes a lot easier as it was shown on the colour of the bands on their shells along with the number of them.
To establish the reason for all the differences in the characteristics of snails at the individual locations, we came up with two different hypotheses. The null hypothesis: genetic drift and gene flow are present with weak/no selection (the samples collected in the independent areas would have similar features). The alternative hypothesis: genetic drift and gene flow are present with some selection (the samples collected in the independent areas would not have similar features).We anticipated to see null hypothesis at the same regions of sampling, i.e. open grassland, even if they were taken at different altitudes.Therefore the alternative hypothesis was expected to be observed at different regions of sampling, i.e. tree area and a shrub area.
Our investigation focussed on observing the phenotypic frequencies present at particular sites within the Monks Riseborough environment. In total, 6 sites were analysed; 3 samples at high altitude and the remaining 3 at low altitude (open grassland, forest, shrubs respectively). In each instance, the specific sites were 20m apart from one another and travelled across a linear line from shrub land to grassland. This experimental design allowed us to therefore eliminate pseudoreplication from our experiment, all the while observing whether or not there is a significant difference between the frequency of the previously stated phenotypes, and our two variables of altitude and habitat.
By comprehending and interpreting our findings, we hope to determine if polymorphism is present or not in the population of grove snails.
Group Members:
Introduction
The aim of this field study was to study a particular species of snails, (Cepaea nemoralis) otherwise known as the grove snail and determine if polymorphism was active in this distinct population. This snail was chosen as it is one of the most common species of land snail in Europe hence increasing the likelihood of finding a large sample in different areas. Furthermore, since the study was about snails, the different niche areas we were investigating only had to be about 20m away from each other which made sampling a lot easier than it would’ve been if it was a land territorial/migrating species such as birds, lions or humans. Additionally, examining snails made identifying the phenotypes a lot easier as it was shown on the colour of the bands on their shells along with the number of them.
To establish the reason for all the differences in the characteristics of snails at the individual locations, we came up with two different hypotheses. The null hypothesis: genetic drift and gene flow are present with weak/no selection (the samples collected in the independent areas would have similar features). The alternative hypothesis: genetic drift and gene flow are present with some selection (the samples collected in the independent areas would not have similar features). We anticipated to see null hypothesis at the same regions of sampling, i.e. open grassland, even if they were taken at different altitudes. Therefore the alternative hypothesis was expected to be observed at different regions of sampling, i.e. tree area and a shrub area.
Our investigation focussed on observing the phenotypic frequencies present at particular sites within the Monks Riseborough environment. In total, 6 sites were analysed; 3 samples at high altitude and the remaining 3 at low altitude (open grassland, forest, shrubs respectively). In each instance, the specific sites were 20m apart from one another and travelled across a linear line from shrub land to grassland. This experimental design allowed us to therefore eliminate pseudoreplication from our experiment, all the while observing whether or not there is a significant difference between the frequency of the previously stated phenotypes, and our two variables of altitude and habitat.
By comprehending and interpreting our findings, we hope to determine if polymorphism is present or not in the population of grove snails.